The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that upheld the authority of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission to draw congressional boundaries is reverberating far beyond the confines of the Grand Canyon State.

Bush v. Gore is the ultimate example of politics and law intersecting and it shows how lawyers can affect an election in a dramatic way. But in Arizona, every election cycle brings its own set of controversies to be settled in the courtroom.

On the chance that the state’s legislative map must be redrawn before the next federal census, let me suggest a workable method that (1) retains the Redistricting Commission’s authority, (2) observes the Arizona Constitution’s redistricting principles, and (3) reduces the influence of political parties.

Arizona lawmakers are introducing another supplemental appropriation for the Independent Redistricting Commission, providing an infusion of new funding to the maligned agency as it tries to pay its bills for the remainder of the fiscal year. The Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Senate President Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, voted today to allow the late introduction of a bill to provide $635,226 to the commission, according to a Republican Senate staffer.

The state’s redistricting commission is set to discuss the lawsuits it is embroiled in today, and weigh an appeal of a recent ruling that forced commissioners to answer questions from attorneys who want to prove a conspiracy led to a legislative map that critics say favors Democrats.

Lawmakers plan to send two bills to Gov. Jan Brewer’s desk by the end of the week: an emergency provision to hire new staff for Child Protective Services and $500,000 for the Independent Redistricting Commission for an upcoming trial in federal court.